JoElla "Jo" Penfield

JoElla "Jo" Penfield, 95, of Lusk, Wyoming passed peacefully into the arms of her Heavenly Father at 9:25 A.M. Monday, Nov. 24, 2014 at Memorial Hospital of Converse County, Douglas, Wyoming after a short illness.

Jo was born April 19, 1919 in Nicholas County, Kentucky, the daughter of Ava D. (Yates) and Frank Martin. She was the eldest of two children.

She attended and graduated from Midway Girls Academy in Versailles, Kentucky. While there she developed a love of music and became a very accomplished pianist. She loved composition and writing lyrics. She was also a member of the A-capella Choir as she had a beautiful voice. Prior to going to the academy, Jo's early education was in a one room country school house and taught by her mother who was the only school teacher in the county. You might say she was "home schooled".

After graduation Jo traveled extensively at home and abroad. During this time she became interested in the medical field and began her career in nursing, which she continued for many years.

Aside from music, one of her favorite pastimes was spending the whole day checking out yard sales and Thrift Stores.

After moving to Lusk, Wyoming with her husband Luther, she loved traveling to Las Vegas at Christmas time to visit with her Nevada family. Christmas was her very favorite time of the year. She would decorated her whole house for the holidays - right down to the holiday themed bathroom tissue!

She never lost her love of music, and over the years became close friends with many famous country music entertainers. She maintained those friendships up until the time of her death.

Jo is survived by her husband of 26 years, Luther Penfield of Lusk, Wyoming; her daughter Janice "Jan" Azbarea of Las Vegas, Nevada; sons, Randy Copas of Casper, Wyoming, and Jack Huls of California. She is also survived by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Lloyd E. Copas, her second husband, Master Sergeant John E. Huls; her son, Ralph C. Huls; as well as her brother, Ralph G. Martin.

Viewing was Sunday, Nov. 30th at Pier Funeral Home in Lusk, Wyoming. Services were held Monday, Dec. 1st at the First Baptist Church in Lusk. Interment was in the Lusk Cemetery.

Memorial contributions to either the First Baptist Church, 301 S. Elm Street, Lusk, Wyoming 82225 or to the Niobrara Senior Center, PO Box 928, Lusk, Wyoming 82225.

The family would like to thank the staff at Memorial Hospital of Converse County, Douglas, Wyoming for the exceptionally kind and loving care that they gave Jo, as well as the family, during this difficult time, especially Dr. Roberto Fars, Dr. Nathan Ker, and Toni Harms, R.N., and Pastor Tom Strock at First Baptist Church. Pier Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

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